Slow bus to China is cancelled after quake

A plan to send a red doubledecker bus to China to coincide with the Olympic Games has been dropped following the earthquake in the Sichuan province, it was confirmed today.

The London 2012 organising committee said the trip was inappropriate in the wake of the disaster, which has so far claimed more than 65,000 lives. Despite the cancellation, London taxpayers will still be hit for some of the costs as Transport for London (TfL), which was to fund two-thirds of the £450,000 expedition, will have to pay £150,000 in expenses incurred in planning the trip.

Eight bus drivers were due to drive the bus on a 14-week promotional journey across Europe and Asia to the Chinese capital Beijing.

Ken Livingstone had hailed the plan as a good advert for London transport, while Boris Johnson called it a waste of public money.

The move comes a day after Mr Johnson axed a controversial tie-in with Venezuela that provided cheap fuel for London buses in return for transport advice.